Luke 1
Complete Jewish Bible
1 Dear Theophilos:
Concerning the matters that have taken place among us, many people have undertaken to draw up accounts 2 based on what was handed down to us by those who from the start were eyewitnesses and proclaimers of the message. 3 Therefore, Your Excellency, since I have carefully investigated all these things from the beginning, it seemed good to me that I too should write you an accurate and ordered narrative, 4 so that you might know how well-founded are the things about which you have been taught.
5 In the days of Herod, King of Y’hudah, there was a cohen named Z’kharyah who belonged to the Aviyah division. His wife was a descendant of Aharon, and her name was Elisheva. 6 Both of them were righteous before God, observing all the mitzvot and ordinances of Adonai blamelessly. 7 But they had no children, because Elisheva was barren; and they were both well along in years.
8 One time, when Z’kharyah was fulfilling his duties as cohen during his division’s period of service before God, 9 he was chosen by lot (according to the custom among the cohanim) to enter the Temple and burn incense. 10 All the people were outside, praying, at the time of the incense burning, 11 when there appeared to him an angel of Adonai standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Z’kharyah was startled and terrified at the sight. 13 But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Z’kharyah; because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elisheva will bear you a son, and you are to name him Yochanan. 14 He will be a joy and a delight to you, and many people will rejoice when he is born, 15 for he will be great in the sight of Adonai. He is never to drink wine or other liquor, and he will be filled with the Ruach HaKodesh even from his mother’s womb. 16 He will turn many of the people of Isra’el to Adonai their God. 17 He will go out ahead of Adonai in the spirit and power of Eliyahu to turn the hearts of fathers to their children[a] and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for Adonai a people prepared.”
18 Z’kharyah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man; my wife too is well on in years.” 19 “I am Gavri’el,” the angel answered him, “and I stand in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, to give you this good news. 20 Now, because you didn’t believe what I said, which will be fulfilled when the time comes, you will be silent, unable to speak until the day these things take place.”
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Z’kharyah; they were surprised at his taking so long in the Temple. 22 But when he came out unable to talk to them, they realized that he had seen a vision in the Temple; speechless, he communicated to them with signs.
23 When his period of his Temple service was over, he returned home. 24 Following this, Elisheva his wife conceived, and she remained five months in seclusion, saying, 25 “Adonai has done this for me; he has shown me favor at this time, so as to remove my public disgrace.”
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gavri’el was sent by God to a city in the Galil called Natzeret, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Yosef, of the house of David; the virgin’s name was Miryam. 28 Approaching her, the angel said, “Shalom, favored lady! Adonai is with you!” 29 She was deeply troubled by his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Miryam, for you have found favor with God. 31 Look! You will become pregnant, you will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua. 32 He will be great, he will be called Son of Ha‘Elyon. Adonai, God, will give him the throne of his forefather David; 33 and he will rule the House of Ya‘akov forever — there will be no end to his Kingdom.” 34 “How can this be,” asked Miryam of the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered her,
“The Ruach HaKodesh will come over you,
the power of Ha‘Elyon will cover you.
Therefore the holy child born to you
will be called the Son of God.
36 “You have a relative, Elisheva, who is an old woman; and everyone says she is barren. But she has conceived a son and is six months pregnant! 37 For with God, nothing is impossible.” 38 Miryam said, “I am the servant of Adonai; may it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
39 Without delay, Miryam set out and hurried to the town in the hill country of Y’hudah 40 where Z’kharyah lived, entered his house and greeted Elisheva. 41 When Elisheva heard Miryam’s greeting, the baby in her womb stirred. Elisheva was filled with the Ruach HaKodesh 42 and spoke up in a loud voice,
“How blessed are you among women!
And how blessed is the child in your womb!
43 “But who am I, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy! 45 Indeed you are blessed, because you have trusted that the promise Adonai has made to you will be fulfilled.”
46 Then Miryam said,
“My soul magnifies Adonai;
47 and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior,
48 who has taken notice of his servant-girl
in her humble position.[b]
For — imagine it! — from now on, all generations will call me blessed!
49 “The Mighty One has done great things for me!
Indeed, his name is holy; 50 and in every generation
he has mercy on those who fear him.[c]
51 “He has performed mighty deeds with his arm,
routed the secretly proud,
52 brought down rulers from their thrones,
raised up the humble,
53 filled the hungry with good things,
but sent the rich away empty.
54 “He has taken the part of his servant Isra’el,
mindful of the mercy
55 which he promised to our fathers,
to Avraham and his seed forever.”
56 Miryam stayed with Elisheva for about three months and then returned home.
57 The time arrived for Elisheva to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard how good Adonai had been to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 On the eighth day, they came to do the child’s b’rit-milah. They were about to name him Z’kharyah, after his father, 60 when his mother spoke up and said, “No, he is to be called Yochanan.” 61 They said to her, “None of your relatives has that name,” 62 and they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him called. 63 He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is Yochanan.” 64 At that moment, his power of speech returned, and his first words were a b’rakhah to God. 65 All their neighbors were awestruck; and throughout the hill country of Y’hudah, people talked about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard of them said to himself, “What is this child going to be?” For clearly the hand of Adonai was with him.
67 His father Z’kharyah was filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and spoke this prophecy:
68 “Praised be Adonai, the God of Isra’el,[d]
because he has visited and made a ransom to liberate his people
69 by raising up for us a mighty Deliverer
who is a descendant of his servant David.
70 It is just as he has spoken
through the mouth of the prophets from the very beginning —
71 that we should be delivered from our enemies
and from the power of all who hate us.
72 “This has happened so that he might show
the mercy promised to our fathers —
that he would remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath he swore before Avraham avinu
74 to grant us that we, freed from our enemies,
would serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.
76 You, child, will be called a prophet of Ha‘Elyon;
you will go before the Lord to prepare his way[e]
77 by spreading the knowledge among his people
that deliverance comes by having sins forgiven
78 through our God’s most tender mercy,
which causes the Sunrise to visit us from Heaven,
79 to shine on those in darkness, living in the shadow of death,[f]
and to guide our feet into the paths of peace.”
80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilderness until the time came for him to appear in public to Isra’el.
路加福音 1
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
序言（參(A)
1 尊敬的提阿非羅先生，因為有許多人，已經把在我們中間成就了的事， 2 按照起初親眼看見的傳道人所傳給我們的，編著成書； 3 我已經把這些事從頭考查過，認為也應該按著次序寫給你， 4 讓你曉得所學到的道理，都是確實的。
天使預言施洗約翰出生
5 猶太王希律在位的日子，亞比雅班裡有一個祭司，名叫撒迦利亞，他妻子是亞倫的後代，名叫以利沙伯。 6 他們在 神面前都是義人，遵行主的一切誡命規條，無可指摘， 7 只是沒有孩子，因為以利沙伯不生育，二人又都上了年紀。
8 有一次，撒迦利亞在 神面前按著班次執行祭司的職務， 9 照祭司的慣例抽中了籤，進入主的聖殿燒香。 10 燒香的時候，眾人都在外面祈禱。 11 有主的使者站在香壇右邊，向他顯現。 12 撒迦利亞一見就驚慌起來，十分害怕。 13 天使說：“撒迦利亞，不要怕，因為你的祈求已蒙垂聽，你妻子以利沙伯要給你生一個兒子，你要給他起名叫約翰。 14 你必歡喜快樂，許多人因他出生，也必喜樂。 15 他在主面前要被尊為大，淡酒濃酒都不喝，未出母腹就被聖靈充滿。 16 他要使許多以色列人轉向主他們的 神。 17 他必有以利亞的靈和能力，行在主的前面，叫父親的心轉向兒女，叫悖逆的轉向義人的意念，為主安排那預備好了的人民。” 18 撒迦利亞對天使說：“我怎麼能知道這事呢？我已經老了，我妻子也上了年紀。” 19 天使回答：“我是站在 神面前的加百列，奉差遣向你說話，報給你這好消息。 20 看吧！到了時候我的話必要應驗；因為你不信我的話，你必成為啞巴，直到這些事成就的那一天，才能說話。”
21 眾人等候撒迦利亞；因他在聖殿裡遲遲不出來，覺得奇怪。 22 等到他出來，卻不能講話，竟成了啞巴，不斷地向他們打手式，他們就知道他在聖殿裡見了異象。 23 供職的日子滿了，他就回家去。 24 過了幾天，他妻子以利沙伯懷了孕，隱藏了五個月，說： 25 “主在眷顧的日子，這樣看待我，要把我在人間的羞恥除掉。”
天使預言耶穌降生
26 到了第六個月，天使加百列奉 神差遣，往加利利的拿撒勒城去， 27 到了一個童貞女那裡，她已經和大衛家一個名叫約瑟的人訂了婚，童貞女的名字是馬利亞。 28 天使進去，對她說：“恭喜！蒙大恩的女子，主與你同在！” 29 她卻因這話驚慌起來，反覆思想這樣祝賀是甚麼意思。 30 天使說：“馬利亞，不要怕！因你已從 神那裡蒙了恩。 31 你將懷孕生子，要給他起名叫耶穌。 32 他將要被尊為大，稱為至高者的兒子，主 神要把他祖大衛的王位賜給他， 33 他要作王統治雅各家，直到永遠，他的國沒有窮盡。” 34 馬利亞對天使說：“我還沒有出嫁（“我還沒有出嫁”原文作“我不認識男人”），怎能有這事呢？” 35 天使回答：“聖靈要臨到你，至高者的能力要覆庇你，因此那將要出生的聖者，必稱為 神的兒子。 36 你看，你親戚以利沙伯，被稱為不生育的，在老年也懷了男胎，現在已是第六個月了， 37 因為在 神沒有一件事是不可能的。” 38 馬利亞說：“我是主的婢女，願照你的話成就在我身上！”天使就離開她去了。
馬利亞往見以利沙伯
39 後來，馬利亞就起身，急忙向山地去，來到猶大的一座城， 40 進了撒迦利亞的家，向以利沙伯問安。 41 以利沙伯一聽見馬利亞的問安，腹中的胎兒就跳動，以利沙伯也被聖靈充滿， 42 就高聲說：“你在女子中是有福的！你腹中的胎兒也是有福的！ 43 我主的母親竟然到我這裡來。這事怎會臨到我呢？ 44 你看，你問安的聲音一進我的耳朵，我腹中的胎兒就歡喜跳躍。 45 這相信主傳給她的話必要成就的女子是有福的。”
馬利亞尊主為大（參(B)
46 馬利亞說：
“我心尊主為大，
47 我靈以 神我的救主為樂，
48 因為他垂顧他婢女的卑微，
看哪！今後萬代都要稱我為有福。
49 全能者為我行了大事，他的名為聖；
50 他的憐憫世世代代歸與敬畏他的人。
51 他用膀臂施展大能，
驅散心裡妄想的狂傲人。
52 他使有權能的失位，
叫卑微的升高，
53 讓飢餓的得飽美食，
使富足的空手回去。
54 他扶助了他的僕人以色列，
為要記念他的憐憫，
55 正如他向我們列祖所說的，
恩待亞伯拉罕和他的後裔，直到永遠。”
56 馬利亞和以利沙伯同住約有三個月，就回家去了。
施洗約翰出生
57 以利沙伯的產期到了，生了一個兒子。 58 鄰里親戚，聽見主向她大施憐憫，都和她一同歡樂。 59 到了第八天，他們來給孩子行割禮，要照他父親的名字，叫他撒迦利亞。 60 但他母親說：“不可，要叫他約翰。” 61 他們說：“你親族裡沒有叫這名字的。” 62 他們就向孩子的父親打手式，看他要叫他甚麼。 63 他要了一塊寫字版，寫上說：“他的名字是約翰。”眾人都希奇。 64 撒迦利亞的口舌立刻開了，就出聲稱頌 神。 65 住在周圍的人都害怕，這一切事傳遍了整個猶太山地， 66 凡聽見的就把這些事放在心裡，說：“這孩子將會成為怎樣的人呢？因為主的手與他同在。”
撒迦利亞的預言
67 他的父親撒迦利亞被聖靈充滿，預言說：
68 “主，以色列的 神，是應當稱頌的，
因他眷顧自己的子民，施行救贖，
69 在他僕人大衛家中，
為我們興起救恩的角，
70 正如主自古以來藉聖先知口中所說的，
71 救我們脫離仇敵，和恨我們的人的手；
72 向我們列祖施憐憫，記念他的聖約，
73 就是他對我們祖先亞伯拉罕所起的誓，
74 把我們從仇敵手中救拔出來，
叫我們可以坦然無懼，用聖潔公義，
75 在他面前一生一世敬拜他。
76 孩子啊，你要稱為至高者的先知，
因為你要行在主的面前，預備他的路，
77 使他的子民，因罪得赦，就知道救恩。
78 因我們 神的憐憫，
使清晨的陽光從高天臨到我們，
79 光照那坐在黑暗中死蔭裡的人，
引導我們的腳，走上平安的路。”
80 這孩子漸漸長大，心靈健壯，住在曠野，直到他在以色列人中公開露面的日子。
Luke 1
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
I. The Prologue[a]
Chapter 1
1 Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us,(A) 2 just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,(B) 3 I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.
II. The Infancy Narrative[b]
Announcement of the Birth of John. 5 In the days of Herod, King of Judea,[c] there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.(C) 6 Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. 7 But they had no child,[d] because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.(D) 8 Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, 9 according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.(E) 10 Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, 11 the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid,[e] Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.(F) 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of [the] Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink.[f] He will be filled with the holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb,(G) 16 and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah[g] to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”(H) 18 Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel,[h] who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.(I) 20 But now you will be speechless and unable to talk[i] until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”(J)
21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. 23 Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. 24 After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, 25 “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”(K)
Announcement of the Birth of Jesus.[j] 26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.(L) 28 And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”(M) 29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 (N)Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 32 (O)He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,[k] and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”(P) 34 But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”[l] 35 And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.(Q) 36 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived[m] a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; 37 for nothing will be impossible for God.”(R) 38 Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth. 39 During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,(S) 42 cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.(T) 43 And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord[n] should come to me? 44 For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed are you who believed[o] that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”(U)
The Canticle of Mary. 46 (V)And Mary said:[p]
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;(W)
47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior.(X)
48 For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness;
behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.(Y)
49 The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.(Z)
50 His mercy is from age to age
to those who fear him.(AA)
51 He has shown might with his arm,
dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.(AB)
52 He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones
but lifted up the lowly.(AC)
53 The hungry he has filled with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.(AD)
54 He has helped Israel his servant,
remembering his mercy,(AE)
55 according to his promise to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”(AF)
56 Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
The Birth of John.[q] 57 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.(AG) 59 [r]When they came on the eighth day to circumcise(AH) the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.”(AI) 61 But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” 62 So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. 63 He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.(AJ) 65 Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
The Canticle of Zechariah. 67 Then Zechariah his father, filled with the holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:
68 [s]“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
for he has visited and brought redemption to his people.(AK)
69 [t]He has raised up a horn for our salvation
within the house of David his servant,(AL)
70 even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old:
71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,(AM)
72 to show mercy to our fathers(AN)
and to be mindful of his holy covenant(AO)
73 and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father,(AP)
and to grant us that, 74 rescued from the hand of enemies,
without fear we might worship him 75 in holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.(AQ)
76 And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord[u] to prepare his ways,(AR)
77 to give his people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God(AS)
by which the daybreak from on high[v] will visit us(AT)
79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.(AU)
Footnotes
- 1:1–4 The Gospel according to Luke is the only one of the synoptic gospels to begin with a literary prologue. Making use of a formal, literary construction and vocabulary, the author writes the prologue in imitation of Hellenistic Greek writers and, in so doing, relates his story about Jesus to contemporaneous Greek and Roman literature. Luke is not only interested in the words and deeds of Jesus, but also in the larger context of the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus as the fulfillment of the promises of God in the Old Testament. As a second- or third-generation Christian, Luke acknowledges his debt to earlier eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, but claims that his contribution to this developing tradition is a complete and accurate account, told in an orderly manner, and intended to provide Theophilus (“friend of God,” literally) and other readers with certainty about earlier teachings they have received.
- 1:5–2:52 Like the Gospel according to Matthew, this gospel opens with an infancy narrative, a collection of stories about the birth and childhood of Jesus. The narrative uses early Christian traditions about the birth of Jesus, traditions about the birth and circumcision of John the Baptist, and canticles such as the Magnificat (Lk 1:46–55) and Benedictus (Lk 1:67–79), composed of phrases drawn from the Greek Old Testament. It is largely, however, the composition of Luke who writes in imitation of Old Testament birth stories, combining historical and legendary details, literary ornamentation and interpretation of scripture, to answer in advance the question, “Who is Jesus Christ?” The focus of the narrative, therefore, is primarily christological. In this section Luke announces many of the themes that will become prominent in the rest of the gospel: the centrality of Jerusalem and the temple, the journey motif, the universality of salvation, joy and peace, concern for the lowly, the importance of women, the presentation of Jesus as savior, Spirit-guided revelation and prophecy, and the fulfillment of Old Testament promises. The account presents parallel scenes (diptychs) of angelic announcements of the birth of John the Baptist and of Jesus, and of the birth, circumcision, and presentation of John and Jesus. In this parallelism, the ascendency of Jesus over John is stressed: John is prophet of the Most High (Lk 1:76); Jesus is Son of the Most High (Lk 1:32). John is great in the sight of the Lord (Lk 1:15); Jesus will be Great (a LXX attribute, used absolutely, of God) (Lk 1:32). John will go before the Lord (Lk 1:16–17); Jesus will be Lord (Lk 1:43; 2:11).
- 1:5 In the days of Herod, King of Judea: Luke relates the story of salvation history to events in contemporary world history. Here and in Lk 3:1–2 he connects his narrative with events in Palestinian history; in Lk 2:1–2 and Lk 3:1 he casts the Jesus story in the light of events of Roman history. Herod the Great, the son of the Idumean Antipater, was declared “King of Judea” by the Roman Senate in 40 B.C., but became the undisputed ruler of Palestine only in 37 B.C. He continued as king until his death in 4 B.C. Priestly division of Abijah: a reference to the eighth of the twenty-four divisions of priests who, for a week at a time, twice a year, served in the Jerusalem temple.
- 1:7 They had no child: though childlessness was looked upon in contemporaneous Judaism as a curse or punishment for sin, it is intended here to present Elizabeth in a situation similar to that of some of the great mothers of important Old Testament figures: Sarah (Gn 15:3; 16:1); Rebekah (Gn 25:21); Rachel (Gn 29:31; 30:1); the mother of Samson and wife of Manoah (Jgs 13:2–3); Hannah (1 Sm 1:2).
- 1:13 Do not be afraid: a stereotyped Old Testament phrase spoken to reassure the recipient of a heavenly vision (Gn 15:1; Jos 1:9; Dn 10:12, 19 and elsewhere in Lk 1:30; 2:10). You shall name him John: the name means “Yahweh has shown favor,” an indication of John’s role in salvation history.
- 1:15 He will drink neither wine nor strong drink: like Samson (Jgs 13:4–5) and Samuel (1 Sm 1:11 LXX and 4QSama), John is to be consecrated by Nazirite vow and set apart for the Lord’s service.
- 1:17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah: John is to be the messenger sent before Yahweh, as described in Mal 3:1–2. He is cast, moreover, in the role of the Old Testament fiery reformer, the prophet Elijah, who according to Mal 3:23 (Mal 4:5) is sent before “the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.”
- 1:19 I am Gabriel: “the angel of the Lord” is identified as Gabriel, the angel who in Dn 9:20–25 announces the seventy weeks of years and the coming of an anointed one, a prince. By alluding to Old Testament themes in Lk 1:17, 19 such as the coming of the day of the Lord and the dawning of the messianic era, Luke is presenting his interpretation of the significance of the births of John and Jesus.
- 1:20 You will be speechless and unable to talk: Zechariah’s becoming mute is the sign given in response to his question in v 18. When Mary asks a similar question in Lk 1:34, unlike Zechariah who was punished for his doubt, she, in spite of her doubt, is praised and reassured (Lk 1:35–37).
- 1:26–38 The announcement to Mary of the birth of Jesus is parallel to the announcement to Zechariah of the birth of John. In both the angel Gabriel appears to the parent who is troubled by the vision (Lk 1:11–12, 26–29) and then told by the angel not to fear (Lk 1:13, 30). After the announcement is made (Lk 1:14–17, 31–33) the parent objects (Lk 1:18, 34) and a sign is given to confirm the announcement (Lk 1:20, 36). The particular focus of the announcement of the birth of Jesus is on his identity as Son of David (Lk 1:32–33) and Son of God (Lk 1:32, 35).
- 1:32 Son of the Most High: cf. Lk 1:76 where John is described as “prophet of the Most High.” “Most High” is a title for God commonly used by Luke (Lk 1:35, 76; 6:35; 8:28; Acts 7:48; 16:17).
- 1:34 Mary’s questioning response is a denial of sexual relations and is used by Luke to lead to the angel’s declaration about the Spirit’s role in the conception of this child (Lk 1:35). According to Luke, the virginal conception of Jesus takes place through the holy Spirit, the power of God, and therefore Jesus has a unique relationship to Yahweh: he is Son of God.
- 1:36–37 The sign given to Mary in confirmation of the angel’s announcement to her is the pregnancy of her aged relative Elizabeth. If a woman past the childbearing age could become pregnant, why, the angel implies, should there be doubt about Mary’s pregnancy, for nothing will be impossible for God.
- 1:43 Even before his birth, Jesus is identified in Luke as the Lord.
- 1:45 Blessed are you who believed: Luke portrays Mary as a believer whose faith stands in contrast to the disbelief of Zechariah (Lk 1:20). Mary’s role as believer in the infancy narrative should be seen in connection with the explicit mention of her presence among “those who believed” after the resurrection at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:14).
- 1:46–55 Although Mary is praised for being the mother of the Lord and because of her belief, she reacts as the servant in a psalm of praise, the Magnificat. Because there is no specific connection of the canticle to the context of Mary’s pregnancy and her visit to Elizabeth, the Magnificat (with the possible exception of v 48) may have been a Jewish Christian hymn that Luke found appropriate at this point in his story. Even if not composed by Luke, it fits in well with themes found elsewhere in Luke: joy and exultation in the Lord; the lowly being singled out for God’s favor; the reversal of human fortunes; the fulfillment of Old Testament promises. The loose connection between the hymn and the context is further seen in the fact that a few Old Latin manuscripts identify the speaker of the hymn as Elizabeth, even though the overwhelming textual evidence makes Mary the speaker.
- 1:57–66 The birth and circumcision of John above all emphasize John’s incorporation into the people of Israel by the sign of the covenant (Gn 17:1–12). The narrative of John’s circumcision also prepares the way for the subsequent description of the circumcision of Jesus in Lk 2:21. At the beginning of his two-volume work Luke shows those who play crucial roles in the inauguration of Christianity to be wholly a part of the people of Israel. At the end of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 21:20; 22:3; 23:6–9; 24:14–16; 26:2–8, 22–23) he will argue that Christianity is the direct descendant of Pharisaic Judaism.
- 1:59 The practice of Palestinian Judaism at this time was to name the child at birth; moreover, though naming a male child after the father is not completely unknown, the usual practice was to name the child after the grandfather (see Lk 1:61). The naming of the child John and Zechariah’s recovery from his loss of speech should be understood as fulfilling the angel’s announcement to Zechariah in Lk 1:13, 20.
- 1:68–79 Like the canticle of Mary (Lk 1:46–55) the canticle of Zechariah is only loosely connected with its context. Apart from Lk 1:76–77, the hymn in speaking of a horn for our salvation (Lk 1:69) and the daybreak from on high (Lk 1:78) applies more closely to Jesus and his work than to John. Again like Mary’s canticle, it is largely composed of phrases taken from the Greek Old Testament and may have been a Jewish Christian hymn of praise that Luke adapted to fit the present context by inserting Lk 1:76–77 to give Zechariah’s reply to the question asked in Lk 1:66.
- 1:69 A horn for our salvation: the horn is a common Old Testament figure for strength (Ps 18:3; 75:5–6; 89:18; 112:9; 148:14). This description is applied to God in Ps 18:3 and is here transferred to Jesus. The connection of the phrase with the house of David gives the title messianic overtones and may indicate an allusion to a phrase in Hannah’s song of praise (1 Sm 2:10), “the horn of his anointed.”
- 1:76 You will go before the Lord: here the Lord is most likely a reference to Jesus (contrast Lk 1:15–17 where Yahweh is meant) and John is presented as the precursor of Jesus.
- 1:78 The daybreak from on high: three times in the LXX (Jer 23:5; Zec 3:8; 6:12), the Greek word used here for daybreak translates the Hebrew word for “scion, branch,” an Old Testament messianic title.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
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